Maybe, probably.

Chapter 22: Asher

No...this can't be real—this isn't real—

But no matter how many times I told myself that, Quinn was still there, protectively clutching Gram's lifeless body.

We had tried to approach her a few times, but she just hissed and pulled Gram closer to her. Then cried harder.

My lungs couldn't take in any air. It hurt to look at her like that. Completely...broken.

We had managed to detain Conan and his friends, with the help of Quinn's power blast. I still don't know what her Main is (Main: Her most powerful power that she alone can only control. We all have similar powers but the Main is like your specialty) but I have a feeling it has something to do with that epic, glass-shattering scream.

Quinn's parents where standing side by side, having momentarily forgotten their feud, staring at Quinn and Gram.

None of us really know what to do. Andre, Xander, and Vi had already taken Conan and the rest of them to their holding cells for questioning, All of them throwing looks of sympathy and utter heartbreak at Quinn before they left.

But Quinn didn't meet their stare. She didn't meet anyones stare. She just silently rocked Gram back and forth, her sobs becoming quiet and shaky.

The only sound was the leaves crackling underneath their bodies.

I took a step forward, bracing myself for my head to be bitten off. But nothing happened. She just stopped rocking.

I took another step forward and she clutched Gram tighter.

Quinn's mother stepped forward and growled, "Don't even dare—"

The boss grabbed her elbow, halting her in her tracks and hissed out quietly, "Shut up and let him try."

Her mother's entire body shriveled up and cringed, but she stopped moving forward. She crossed her arms and bit her lip, a habit I've noticed in her daughter as well.

I could see the pain and grief flooding her body over her mother's death but it was like she was deliberately shoving it away.

I ignored them both and turned back to Quinn. I decided I wouldn't take my eyes off her. Not for a while, anyway.

I finally reached her side and crouched down into a squat.

She didn't move.

"Princess..." I sighed, brushing the hair from her face; it was stained with tears and heartbreak.

The word was the key that finally turned the lock.

She gently released the grip on Gram's body, letting her slip from her arms and onto the forest floor.

Quinn's shoulders slumped and I realized it was because she had started to cry again. She turned her face the slightest bit to meet my eyes. Her usually bright brown eyes where dull and broken.

My heart cracked open once again.

"Come here..." I linked my arms beneath her knees and lifted her into my embrace. She cradled her head into the crook of my neck and inhaled my scent.

She sniffled and cried into my chest as I turned on my heel and left her broken parents standing in the woods.

****

After carrying her into headquarters and finding an empty room in the hospital wing, I'm currently watching a nurse give her fluids to help with all of the water she's lost from crying.

Quinn had fallen asleep about 30 seconds after I held her in my arms.

The nurse clicked her tongue and smiled at me. "All right. She should be feeling a lot better when she wakes up. Just ring if you need anything." She nodded to the blue button on the wall before walking out of the room and quietly clicking the door shut.

Alone with a sleeping girl, I sat down into the side chair right next to her bed and ran a hand through my black curls.

I should have never brought her into this mess.

I braced my elbows on my knees and let my head hang.

She's lost so much. She doesn't deserve this life. I-we-should have never brought her into this.

I leaned against the back of the chair and the next thing I knew I woke up to Quinn saying my name.

"Ash."

I jolted out of my chair and coughed, "Hey, how are you feeling?"

Then scooted the chair closer to her bed and smiled.

She just leaned against the pillows, her hair spilling curls all around her. Her under eyes where still lightly swollen from crying, but her eyes where bright.

But I realized it wasn't because of her beautiful spirit coming back. It was her eyes once again filling with tears.

"Was I dreaming? Did she really—" She choked on the emotion filling her throat and just stared at me for the confirmation.

I nodded gently, reluctant to confirm her worst fear.

She bit her lip just as a shuddering sob released two tears down her cheeks. Her fists gripped the sheets and her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to contain the grief and sadness as it threatened to climb out again.

I want to do something. I need to hold—

"Can I hold your hand?" I asked, completely dumbfounded at the question that seemed to slip from thoughts and out of my mouth.

She opened her eyes and met mine. Her sobs seemed to stop as she bit her lip again and said, her voice thick with emotion, "Yes."

My hands immediately sprung out and clasped her own.

I held her small and warm hands into my big, rough ones.

She sighed and gave the smallest smile.

And that smile meant the world to me.

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Hey guys! Sorry it's been a while since I've updated but I'm back at it now!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and stay tooned for more!

XOXO
WriterGirl ❤️